Sermons and Biblical Studies

I RAN into a lady whom I knew but hadn’t seen in an extended period of time. I asked her, “How far along are you?” referring to an apparent pregnancy. She said, “I’m not pregnant.” That was one of my more embarrassing moments. Sometimes things look like they are happening, when really, there is not … Continue reading “FELLOWSHIP,
PROOF OF”

A LITTLE boy tripped and fell outside and one of his hands fell in the mud. His mother said to him, “Go wash your hands.” He went in the bathroom and came out a few minutes later. He now had two dirty hands. His mother said, “I thought I told you to wash your hands!” … Continue reading “FELLOWSHIP,
MAINTAINING PROPER”

MY KIDS can always get through to me. In the busiest of times, they can still get through to me because I’m their father. I’ve told my assistant that whenever my family calls, put them through. I may not be able to talk to them long each time; I may even have to call them … Continue reading “FATHER
GOD”

IF YOU’VE ever watched the high jumpers in the Olympics, you will realize that there are two kinds. The regular high jumpers jump about seven feet. They run and throw their backs over the bar. But there is another kind of high jumper. They are called pole-vaulters. They jump about eighteen feet. They back up. … Continue reading “FASTING,
POWER OF”

YOU’VE been called into something staggering. If Bill Gates were to adopt a child, that would be staggering. If the president of the United States were to adopt a child, the implications of that are staggering. Because we’ve been adopted into the family of God, the implications are beyond comprehension.292 [Salvation, Benefits of] Rom. 8:17; … Continue reading “FAMILY,
OF GOD”

THE ESSENCE of false religion is a Christian being involved in religious activity while being void of spiritual intimacy. It is exemplified by a person having a ritual of religion without a relationship with God.287 [Carnal Christians; Intimacy, with God] Matt. 23:27–28; 2 Tim. 3:1–5 RELIGION VOID of a relationship will leave you spiritually hungry. … Continue reading “FALSE
RELIGION”

WE CAN’T rely on how we feel. Our feelings, thoughts, and emotions go up and down. If you go to a scary movie, you can know that the monster is not real and still feel afraid. You can still be scared because the moviemakers manipulate your mind so that you begin to feel a reality … Continue reading “FAITH,
VERSUS FEELINGS”

A BUSINESSMAN had to travel to a small town for a meeting and invited his wife to come with him. She was excited about the trip until she learned her husband was going to be flown to the small town in a twin-engine Cessna plane. “Honey, I’ve decided not to go.” “What! Why not?” “I … Continue reading “FAITH,
SIZE OF”

WHEN you place a spoon in a glass of water that’s only two-thirds full, it appears that the spoon is bent or broken. This is called refraction. We know that the spoon is neither bent nor broken, it simply looks that way because of the light. As the light passes through the water, a distortion … Continue reading “FAITH,
DISTORTION OF”

FAITH has to have substance. If after a child has lost a tooth, their parent goes to bed, saying, “I am trusting the tooth fairy to put a dollar under my son’s pillow,” that’s just wasted conversation. There’s no such thing as a tooth fairy. There’s no substance. In order for faith to do something, … Continue reading “FAITH,
CHARACTERISTICS OF”